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Goa Loses Beloved Priest & Environmental Champion
27 May
Summary
- Fr. Bolmax Pereira, a priest and activist, passed away at 50.
- He was a champion for environmental causes and Pope Francis's encyclical.
- Pereira actively worked to protect biodiversity and empower local youth.
Fr. Bolmax Pereira, an influential priest, academic, and environmental activist with the Goa archdiocese, died on Tuesday at age 50 following a cardiac arrest. A native of Quepem, he served as parish priest in Chicalim and was an assistant professor of botany at St Joseph Vaz College, Cortalim.
Pereira was a strong advocate for environmental protection, bringing Pope Francis's environmental encyclical, 'Laudato Si', to local communities. He was instrumental in the 'Save Mollem' campaign, opposing railway doubling projects that threatened biodiversity hotspots.
His community efforts included mentoring youth to defend nature, reviving agriculture through the Chicalim Youth Farmers Club, and leading afforestation drives. He also organized 'Season of Creation' initiatives and received the Goa State Biodiversity Board Appreciation Award.
His passing has deeply saddened parishioners and environmentalists who recognized his commitment to integral ecology and protecting "our common home." Services were scheduled to be held in Chicalim and Quepem.
